Passed in the House: Brady Bill Blocks Obama-era Regulation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) today released the following statement after the House voted to pass his legislation that stops an Obama-era Labor Department regulation on unemployment insurance benefits:

“The American people are sick and tired of unaccountable federal bureaucrats abusing their authority to undercut the will of Congress and the American people. This legislation places a check on blatant executive overreach that all but prohibits states from implementing important reforms to help qualified unemployed workers in their quest to find a new job.”

BACKGROUND: House Joint Resolution 42, sponsored by Chairman Kevin Brady, disapproves and blocks a rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to drug testing of unemployment compensation applicants. In 2012, Chairman Brady helped lead the successful effort in Congress to repeal a 1960s-era ban on drug screening and testing of unemployment insurance applicants and allow states to conduct drug testing of people receiving unemployment benefits. Despite multiple agency meetings with Members of Congress, The Department of Labor’s rule fell well short of Congress’ intent, forcing Congress to intervene.